# US 2018/0021701 A1 · Fluid separator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0021701 A1 - Document ID: US20180021701A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/637,485 - Filed: 2017-06-29 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-19 - Assignees: Eaton Corporation - Applicants: Eaton Corporation - Inventors: Aniruddha M. Kulkarni; Jubin T. George; Stephen Showalter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021701A1 ## CPC - B01D 21/267: {by using a cyclone} - B01D 17/0217: {by centrifugal force} - B01D 19/0057: {the centrifugal movement being caused by a vortex, e.g. using a cyclone, or by a tangential inlet} - B01D 19/0094: {by using a vortex, cavitation} - B04C 5/08: Vortex chamber constructions - B04C 5/181: Bulkheads or central bodies in the discharge opening - F01M 13/04: having means for purifying air before leaving crankcase, e.g. removing oil - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B04C: APPARATUS USING FREE VORTEX FLOW, e.g. CYCLONES ({centrifugal separation of water from steam B01D45/12;} jet mills B02C19/06; {wind sifters B07B7/00;} cyclonic type combustion apparatus F23; {vortex burners for cyclone-type combustion apparatus F23D1/02; cyclonic type combustion apparatus for gas turbines F23R3/00}) - F01M: LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING ## Abstract A fluid separator includes a body, an inlet, a first outlet and/or a second outlet. The first outlet may include a vortex finder that may have a convergent-divergent configuration. The second outlet may include or may be connected to a pressure relief valve. At least a portion of the pressure relief valve may be disposed in the vortex finder. The pressure relief valve may be disposed entirely outside of the vortex finder. The vortex finder may include a divergent section and a convergent section. In embodiments, the divergent section may be at least twice as long as the convergent section, a taper angle of the convergent section may be at least twice as large as a taper angle of the divergent section, and/or an axial length of a portion of the vortex finder extending into the body may be at least 1.5 times a diameter of the inlet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid separator comprising: a body; an inlet; a first outlet; and a second outlet including a vortex finder including a divergent configuration. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid separator of claim 1, wherein the inlet and the second outlet are disposed at a first end of the body and the first outlet is disposed at a second end of the body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fluid separator of claim 1, wherein the first outlet includes or is connected to a pressure relief valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fluid separator of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the pressure relief valve is disposed in the vortex finder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The fluid separator of claim 3, wherein the pressure relief valve is disposed entirely outside of the vortex finder. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fluid separator of claim 1, wherein the vortex finder includes a divergent section and a convergent section connected to the divergent section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fluid separator of claim 6, wherein the divergent section is at least twice as long as the convergent section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The fluid separator of claim 6, wherein the divergent section is at least three times as long as the convergent section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The fluid separator of claim 6, wherein a maximum inner diameter of the convergent section is substantially the same as a maximum inner diameter of the divergent section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The fluid separator of claim 6, wherein a taper angle of the convergent section is at least twice as large as a taper angle of the divergent section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The fluid separator of claim 6, wherein a maximum diameter of the divergent section is no more than 20% larger than a length of the divergent section and is at least 80% as large as the length of the divergent section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fluid separator of claim 1, wherein an axial length of a portion of the vortex finder that extends into the body is at least 1.5 times as large as a diameter of the inlet. ### Claim 13 A method of separating fluid, the method comprising: providing a fluid separator having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, the first outlet including a vortex finder having a convergent-divergent configuration; providing a combined fluid to the inlet; and separating a gas from a liquid of the combined fluid such that the gas flows into a divergent section of the vortex finder and the liquid flows to the second outlet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the gas flows from the divergent section of the vortex finder to a convergent section of the vortex finder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein separating the gas from the liquid is at least 99% efficient. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, comprising at least one of restricting and redirecting flow of the combined fluid via the divergent section of the vortex finder. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein separating the gas from the liquid includes creating a column of the gas. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, comprising restricting flow of the combined fluid to the column of the gas via the divergent section of the vortex finder. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein a length of a portion of the vortex finder disposed in a body of the fluid separator is at least 1.5 times larger than a diameter of the inlet. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein a taper angle of the convergent section is at least twice as large as a taper angle of the divergent section.